Clara Berg’s keen interest in ballet has opened doors for her, garnering invitations to local dance productions and attention from autism experts.

Clara Bergs and her family: her dog Cookie, sister Claudia, 8, mom Lisa Anderson, and dad Roger Bergs. Clara, who has autism and DiGeorge syndrome, surprised her parents and the world last year when she memorized dance movements from the ballet Coppelia just by watching videos.

Roger Bergs leverages his autistic daughter's ability to memorize things to teach her excerpts of piano music from the Nutcracker.

The Nutcracker score still playing in her head, Clara Bergs hummed, danced and conducted on the subway platform, awaiting the train.

The 11-year-old autistic girl had just seen the National Ballet of Canada’s performance of the holiday classic. She had been perched on the edge of her seat throughout, “completely mesmerized,” said her mom, Lisa Anderson.

Spotting Clara dancing in the subway, a young woman approached Anderson, saying she studies the benefits of dance and movement for children with developmental challenges such as autism. The women exchanged numbers so they could chat further.

“It was uncanny,” said Anderson. “The connections just keep forming.”

For the last year, Clara’s keen interest in ballet has been opening doors for her and her family — garnering invitations to dance productions, attention from researchers and experts, and donations for her treatment.

Unbeknownst to the family, Clara had taught herself every step of large sections of the ballet, after hours spent watching it on DVD. When the video was posted online last fall, it was picked up by media in Taiwan, Australia, the United States and Great Britain.

Given her physical and mental challenges, Clara’s musicality and memorization skills were an inspiration. In addition to autism, Clara also has a genetic disorder known as DiGeorge syndrome, which can affect learning and cause facial deformity. Together, the diseases inhibit her comprehension, movement and speech.

The video’s popularity prompted online donations totalling $5,000, money the family has put toward Clara’s specialized treatment, called Intensive Multi-Treatment Intervention, which is not covered by health insurance.

But the video has also facilitated connections between Clara and autism experts and organizations wanting to celebrate and learn more about her.

Rachel Markin reached out to the family after seeing Clara’s video performance. The pediatrics resident studies how creative movement, including dance, affects child development.

After interviewing Anderson about the role dance plays in Clara’s life, Markin concluded Clara was likely attracted to ballet because of the combination of movement, music and ability to express herself through means other than words; Clara is mostly non-verbal.

“It’s my guess that, even though she can’t say it, that is her mode of expression,” said Markin. “It confirms my hunch that there needs to be more emphasis placed on the arts in child development in school, and not just the arts but the physical arts.”

The family was also recently contacted by Kerry’s Place Autism Services. The Canadian organization is celebrating its 40th anniversary next year, and asked Clara to be a part of it.

“I was awestruck by her ability to reproduce that dance,” said Neil Walker, an organizer of the anniversary celebrations.

He’s asked Clara to perform the ballet on stage at next year’s anniversary party, which will showcase the talents of people with autism.

Anderson is pleased Clara’s passion continues to be acknowledged — particularly after an accident in the springtime. While dancing, Clara fell and hit her knee so hard she bled into the joint, a consequence of being on blood thinners because she has a mechanical heart valve. The incident put her in a wheelchair for a month.

“It was probably one of the roughest times in her life,” said Anderson.

Once healed, Clara put on her ballet slippers as soon as she could, and at the end of May, still danced in her ballet recital.

More on thestar.com

We value respectful and thoughtful discussion. Readers are encouraged to flag comments that fail to meet the standards outlined in our
Community Code of Conduct.
For further information, including our legal guidelines, please see our full website
Terms and Conditions.